Process for renovating and clarifying used gasoline



May 18 1926.

W. ALLINSON PROCESS FOR RENOVATING AND CLARIFYING USED GASOLINE Filed Sept. 6, 1921 aste i 18, 1926..

UNETD STATES WILLIAM ALLINSON, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

PROCESS FOR RENOVATING AND CLARIFYING USED GASOLINE.

Application filed September 6, 1921. Serial No. 498,767.

The object of my invention is to provide a process for renovating and clarifying used gasoline.

More particularly, it is my object to pro- 91 vide such a process adapted for use in clothes cleaning establishments and the like, and embodying the forced feeding of the dirty gasoline into the lower portion of a quantity of suitable chemicaland the providing of means whereby the gasoline is forced in a circuitous path on its way upwardly through or from. the chemical.

A further object is to provide in the process, a step whereby the clean gasoline is thoroughly filtered and the Water removed therefrom. I i

The further objects and fuller explanation of the steps of my process will appear in the following description and claims.

For the purpose of better illustrating my process, I have provided herewith drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, parts being shown in section, of a plant wherein my improved process may be carried on.

Figure 2 shows a vetrica-l, detailed, sec-- tional view of the renovating tank; and Fig.v 3 shows a similar view of a modified form of the tank. It has long been known that by passing dirty gasoline, such as has been used incleaning clothes or the like, through certain chemicals, such for instance as a solution of caustic soda, the foreign elements and dirt in the gasoline may be made to puickly settle, so that the more or. less clear gasoline may then be drawn ofi'.

. The chemical usually employed is heavier than the gasoline, so that the gasoline will be caused by operation of gravity to move to the top of the chemizal.

' I have found in practical experience that upon the settling of the dirt, the chemical stands at the bottom of the entire mass, then the dirt stands above the chemical, and the clear gasoline above the dirt. Thelines of division after the settling has continued for a sufiicient time and providing the gasoline has been thoroughly washed or mixed with the chemical, becomes quite sharp and clear- .ly defined.

Before my invention, so far as I am aware, the gasoline has been simply allowed to flow into the lower part of the chemical and to arise by gravity in an unrestricted path through the chemical.

I have found that such old method does not clarify and take all the dirt out of the gasoline as well as might 'be desired.

The reason for the fact that the old process is not entirely successful, I believe to be due partly at least to the fact that the gasoline, having an unrestricted upward path through the chemical will move upwardly quite rapidly and some of the gasoline will not be so thoroughly mixed with the chemical as to give up its dirt and sediment, and will carry with it a considerable amount of dirt in suspension and solution when such galsoline passes upwardly above the chemica- Therefor, I have found that it is desirable to provide some means for thoroughly mixing the dirty gasoline with the chemical and'insuring such action that all parts of the gasoline are subject to the action of the chemical for causing the gasoline to give down the dirt therein.

Such a mixing could be accomplished with some degree of success by mechanical agitation as by means of beaters or paddles.

It has been my purpose to provide a process and also a machine, which is capable-of practical use in an ordinary cleaning plant. This application is in part a continuationof my application, which' matured as Patent No. 1,395,694, issued November 1, 1922.

I have found that in providing a process and machine for use in cleaning plants, the

provision of a mechanical agitating device isexpensive, more or less cumbersome and requires operative parts llkely to get out of order.

It has been my purpose therefor in working out a process and a machine to provide such a process and machine adapted peculiarly for use in an ordinary plant withoutusing mechanical agitators, so that the ma My improved machine comprises a tank,

indicated in the accompanying drawings by the reference character 10, having a suitable capacity for from seventy-five to three hundred gallons or more.

The tank 10 is preferably cylindrical in form and has a top or cover member 11, provided, if necessary, with a removable cover member 12.

The tank 10 is supported by a frame 13, so as to be located above the ground or floor. The tank has a conical bottom 11. Communicating with the interior of the tank and extending downwardly from the conical bottom is a tubular extension 14 at the lower end of which is a smaller cone-shaped member 15.

Extending from the bottom of the lower cone 15, which is the chemical container, is a take-off pipe 16 controlled by a valve 17. A gasoline intake pipe 18 is preferably extended through the tank from top to bottom and into the lower part of the chemical container 15.

The intake pipe 18 may be provided at its lower end with a T 19, having its open ends projected directly upwardly, as shown for instance in Figure 2.

Arranged within the chemical container 15 is a hollow member 20, having the shape of a truncated inverted cone with its larger end up and secured to the top of the container 15, with its lower end spaced above the discharge end of the intake pipe and surrounding the intake pipe and spaced therefrom.

The cone 20 has a few small holes 21 arranged near its upper edge. The carrying capacity of said holes is substantially less than the total carrying capacity of the pipe 18.

Suitably located is a tank Or the like 22 for dirty gasoline. The dirty gasoline is supplied to the intake pipe 18 from the tank 22 by means of a pump 28 and pipes 24 and 25.

In the pipe 25 is a controlling valve 26. In the lower part of the tank 18, I preferably arrange a steam pipe 27, having a se ries of holes 28.

A steam supply pipe 29 leads to the pipe 27, so that dirt and the like may be blown 'out by steam furnished to the inside of the tank 10.

Leading from the tank 10. and the tubular member 14 is a series oftake-off pipes 30, 31,

32 and 33, in which are valves 34,35, 36 and r 37. The take-off pipes lead to a filtering device, which will now be described.

Suitably located with relation to the tank 10 is a filtering tank 40. All of the outlet openings 30, 31, 32 and 33 lead to and discharge into the tank 40. I also provide an overflow pipe 41 leading from the top of the tank 10 and discharging into the tank 40.

In the tank 40 is a compartment 42 closed except at its lower end. The lower end of the filter compa tmen't 42 is covered by a screen .43, and i the filter compartment is suitable filtering material 44. A valve controlled take-ofi' pipe 45 leads from the filter compartment 42.

In Figure 3, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention, in which there is provided an inverted cone-shaped hollow member 46, mounted on the intake pipe 18 just above the conical bottom 11 of the tank 10. The lower edge of the member 46 is slightly spaced from the conical bottom 11.

In the practical operation of my machine and in the carrying out of my process and in order to carry out the objects heretofore mentioned, I find that it is desirable to place the chemical in a container, preferably directly below the tank, in which the clarified gasoline is to stand and to cause the gasoline to be thoroughly mixed with the chemical in the container by forcing it to take a tortuous path and by somewhat restricting its upward path.

The gasoline is therefor fed downwardly through the pipe 18 into the lower end of the chemical container 15. At the lower end of the intake pipe 18, the gasoline is dis charged intp the bottom of the chemical con- .tainer 15 and into the lower part of the chemical. If the T 19 is employed, the gasoline is shot upwardly along the inner sides of the wall of the container 15, and the gasoline takes the same path, even though the T 19 is not used. I

The gasoline travels into the space or compartment between the cone 20 and the wall of the chemical container 15 and is whirled and mixed with the chemical, which practically fills thecontainer.

It should be understood that the chemical is supplied to the container 20 in any suitable way, as for instance through the short )ipe 37 and funnel 38.

I find that much better results are secured by forcing the dirty gasoline under pressure, preferably by use of a pump, into the chemical container and permitting it to leave the chemical container through a restricted passage; and therefor find that the useof the pump, the restricted passage from the chemical container to the tank and some bafile device, such as the cone 20, are highly desirable.

My process therefor involves the forcing of the dirty gasoline under pressure into the lower-part of a quantity of chemical and driving the gasoline through the chemical against a battle device and-permitting the gasoline to travel upwardly through the chemical for causinga proper mixing of the chemical and gasoline, so that all parts of the gasoline come into contact with the chemical, whereby the gasoline is caused to let down the impurities therein.

The gasoline travels upwardly into the negligible.

drawn off through the next successive lower fed through the machine, I find the pump the most-desirable means. To secure sufficient pressure by gravity, the feed tank would have to be high' and the pressure on the last part of the gasoline fed, would be Air pressure might be used, but it is expensive and at present not very practical.

It may be noted that when the operation has been completed and the last gasoline has been fed into the chemical, a small amount of gasoline might stand above the level of the lower end of the cone 20, if it were not for the provision of the small holes 21, which permit such small amount of gasoline to seep upwardly by gravity and pass upwardly through the member 14.

It should be mentioned that the holes 21 are small enough in size and few enough in number, so that the bulk of the gasoline during the operation of the machine is forced to pass downwardly and around the-lower end of the cone 20.

It may be mentioned that after the sediment has been allowed to settle for a short time, it will, in practically all instances,

stand in the cylindrical member 14, and in many instances, in the conical bottom 11.

It will, of course, be understood that the amount of sediment or dirt or mud left inthe lower part of the tank 10 and in the member 14depends upon the condition of the gasoline, which is being clarified.

I find it desirable to practically fill the container 15 with the chemical, so that the heavy chemical will take up all the capacity of the member 15 both before the clarifying operation has commenced and after it has been carried out.

The gasoline may be drawn off through the pipes 31,32 and 33 through the filtering device, the operation of which is herein elsewhere more fully referred to.

After the gasol'ne has been fed into the tank, it is preferably allowed to stand for a ,short time, and then the clear gasoline may be drawn off through the upper take-' off pipe, although the gasoline may he usually drawn off with safety as fast as it reaches the upper take-off pipe. After settling a little longer, the gasoline maybe take-off pipes.

It will be noted that gasoline may be forced into the clarifier and that at the same time, gasoline maybe withdrawn, for' instance. through the pipe 30, so that a continuous process may be followed.

After the clear gasoline has been drawn off,

the muck and chemical are taken off through the pipe 16 by opening the valve 17. Ordinarily one batch of chemical should not be used for more than two batches of gasoline.-

The lower interior of the tank may be thoroughly cleaned by forcing steam into the bottom of the tank through the pipe 27, when that is desired.

All of'the gasoline from the tank 10 is passed through the filtering material, which is preferably fullers earth, and the yellow color is thus taken from the gasoline.

By employing this process, I am able to do away with mechanical agitators and yet secure'su'ch a complete agitation of the gasoline in the chemical as to cause all'of the gasoline to contact with the chemical in the desired way.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of renovating gasoline, comprising the passing of the gasoline into the lower portion of a body of a chemical solution having a greater speci'fic gravity than the gasoline and adapted when mixed with gasoline tocause the gasoline to give down its impurities, causing all of the impurities, which settle out of the upwardly moving gasoline to settle in a body of relative small area of substantial depth and causing the gasoline, as it moves-upwardly .to pass through such body.

specific gravity than the gasoline, the thorough mixing of the gasoline and chemical by imposing pressure on the incoming gasoline and compelling the gasoline, which rises from the chemical to passthrough a restricted opening.

3. A process of renovating gasoline comprising the subjecting of the gasoline to contact with a settling chemical bath, of greater specific gravity than the gasoline, the thorough mixing of the gasoline and chemical by.

imposing pressure on the incoming gasoline and compelling the gasoline which rises from the chemical to pass through a restricted opening, and by causing the gaso line in the chemical container to travel a circuitous path.

4. A process for renovating gasoline,comprising the forcing of-the-gasoline under pressure, into the lower part of a body of a settling chemical, heavier than the fluid to be renovated and through a resaricted exit from the chemical container. Des Moines, Iowa, AugustBO, 1921.

- 5 WILLIAM ALLINSON. 

